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Celebrating 31 years of friendship
The Dako-on Japanese traditional drums (taiko) team composed by former and current students of Seisa Gakuen High School and MHS’ Refaluwasch Culture Club give an impressive performance. (Mackenzie Perez)
Students of both the Seisa Gakuen High School in Japan and Marianas High School in the CNMI came together to celebrate 31 years of friendship between both schools.
MHS principal Cherlyn Cabrera remembers participating in the exchange program as a student, a teacher, and now as a principal.
“One that has not changed over 31 years is the excitement that our students have in doing the cultural exchange,” said Cabrera.
The Seisa Gakuen High School students arrived last Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Marianas High School students were on hand to welcome their sister school.
The following day, March 2, MHS Student Council president Yuuki Nishida met and addressed the Japanese students. March 3 marked Marianas High School’s annual Cultural Day, which the school celebrated with their sister school. The ceremony was opened with opening remarks from Cabrera, Seisa Gakuen High School president Haname Kaneko, and Nishida.
Last Saturday was the thank-you party for students of both schools. The Dako-on Japanese traditional drums (taiko) team composed of former and current students of Seisa Gakuen High School and MHS’ Refaluwasch Culture Club gave an impressive performance.
The Japanese students also went around the island and prayed for the war dead.
Kuniko Sasaki, director of Seisa Gakuen’s Participate and Learn program, described the MHS students as “very kind and helpful.”
“This experience will be an unforgettable memory. Thank you, MHS, for this wonderful opportunity. Hope to see you again” Sasaki added. (Mackenzie Perez)
